​On Saturday, April 12, The Harry S. Truman Foundation invites locals and visitors to step back in time with pop songs from Truman’s era performed by the award-winning Key West Jazz Society’s wartime era tribute band, The Heart Starters. Held on the elegant grounds of the Key West Harry S. Truman Little White House, 111 Front St., Key West, doors open at 5:00pm for cocktails and mingling, with the Heart Starters taking the stage at 6:00pm.
 
Through the musical story-telling magic of the Heart Starters tribute band, guests will find themselves transported to key moments from Harry S. Truman’s presidency, on the very grounds where America’s 33rd President spent 11 working vacations during his 1945-1953 administration.
 
Performer and musical director Channing Lynn Griggs, who revived—and is the driving force today—behind the Key West Jazz Society, named the 2025 Key West Music Awards Jazz Act of the Year, explained that the Heart Starters are a KWJS project developed specifically as a tribute to the Truman era and Harry S. Truman’s presidency. This event, she said, will focus on portraying vignettes from Truman’s life through story, song, and letters from Harry to his beloved wife, Bess.
 
“We’ll be performing music by stars of the era that truly bring history alive,” said Channing. “Hit tunes from the specific day or week that Harry saved the railroads from a strike, or into the living room of the Little White House while he writes a letter to Bess, or onto the U.S.S. Augusta with him while on his sea voyage to the Postsdam Conference in Berlin.”
 
During his Key West sojourns, Harry Truman could often be spotted in his preferred island “uniform” of brightly patterned sports shirts. In that spirit, retro summer tropical is the suggested attire for the evening.
 
“A Swinging Night with the Heart Starters” is the first of three installments in this year’s “TRU-ly Amazing Art” series, an ongoing program that encompass performing, visual, and literary arts, with an emphasis on Truman-era local history.

TRU-ly Amazing Art” events are organized by the not-for-profit Key West Harry S. Truman Foundation, benefit the Harry S. Truman Little White House, and are presented with the support of the Monroe County Tourist Development Council.

The mission of the Harry S. Truman Foundation is to preserve Florida’s only presidential museum—the Harry S. Truman Little White House—and to provide programming that supports civic engagement, education, and the historical and cultural influences of the Truman era.
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Seating for “A Swinging Night with the Heart Starters” is at 2-top and 4-top tables. For Foundation members, ticket price is $80 for a 2-top, $120 for a 4-top. For non-members, $100 for a 2-top, $150 for a 4-top. Tickets and membership information is available at www.trumanlittlewhitehouse.org/foundation/events/.

​The Key West Harry S. Truman Foundation and The Society of Presidential Descendants are pleased to announce that First, Second, and Third-Place prizes have been awarded in the third annual “Presidential Families Weekend” student essay competition, which was introduced in 2023 as a youth educational component of the Foundation’s annual array of Presidents Day weekend events.

Open to all Monroe County high school students, awards were announced and presented following the 2025 “Presidential Descendants Forum,” a live moderated discussion among a panel of presidential descendants held Saturday, Feb. 15, on the grounds of the Key West Harry S. Truman Little White House.

Student competitors researched and wrote on the forum’s 2025 theme of “Historic Preservation—artifacts, objects and sites. Preserving our nation’s history for future generations.”

First Place award was presented to Seava “Kai” Lamontagne, an 11th grade student at Key West High School, by presidential descendant Massee McKinley, great-great grandson of 22nd and 24th U.S. President Grover Cleveland, for Kai’s essay titled, “FDR’s New Deal: A Bridge from Key West to the Future.”

Second Place award was presented to Mila Seigert, an 11th grade student at The Basilica School of Saint Mary Star of the Sea, by presidential descendant Mary Jean Eisenhower, granddaughter of 34th U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower, for Mila’s essay titled, “The perseverance of Historical Preservation in the Face of the Great Depression.”

Third Place award was awarded to Davin Leggett, a 12th grade student at Key West High School by Ulysses Grant Dietz, great-great-grandson of 18th U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant, for Davin’s essay titled, “Preserving the 9/11 Memorials and Museum.”

Juried by members of the Key West Harry S. Truman Foundation and The Society of Presidential Descendants, competitor’s submissions were judged on factors that included their skill at presenting the subject compellingly, according to competition guidelines. Competitors were also required to provide documentation of having performed community service work during the past two years.

Monroe County School District Social Studies Coordinator Jennifer C. Barrios acted as liaison between the school district and the competition organizers.

First, Second and Third Place winners received cash prizes and tickets to attend the Feb. 15 forum.

“All of us from The Key West Harry S. Truman Foundation and The Society of Presidential Descendants who have been involved with the competition are immensely proud of these students and the caliber of their work,” said Clinton Curry, the Foundation’s Executive Director. “We so look forward to seeing where their paths might lead them in the future.”
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The mission of The Harry S. Truman Foundation is to preserve the Harry S. Truman Little White House, Florida’s only presidential museum, and programming that supports civic engagement, education, and the historic and cultural influences of the Truman era. For more information about The Foundation and its programs, contact Foundation Deputy Director Michael Ables at [email protected]. 

On Saturday, February 15, 2025, in celebration of Presidents Day Weekend, the Key West Harry S. Truman Foundation, in partnership with The Society of Presidential Descendants, welcomes seven distinguished descendants of U.S. presidents who will participate in a panel discussion on the grounds of the Harry S. Truman Little White House in Key West.

A ticketed event that takes place before a live audience, the annual forum is the largest Presidents Day Weekend gathering of presidential descendants in the country.

Scheduled to discuss their famous relatives’ legacies and the topic, “Historic Preservation—artifacts, objects and sites. Preserving our nation’s history for future generations” are: James Carter, grandson of 39th U.S. President Jimmy Carter; Clifton Truman Daniel, grandson of 33rd U.S. President Harry S. Truman; Ulysses Grant Dietz, great-great-grandson of 18th U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant; Mary Jean Eisenhower, granddaughter of 34th U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower; Massee McKinley, great-great grandson of 22nd and 24th U.S. President Grover Cleveland; Tweed Roosevelt, great-grandson of 26th U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt; and Patricia Taft, great-granddaughter of 27th U.S. President William H. Taft.

Dr. Cori Convertito, chief curator and historian for the Key West Art & Historical Society will moderate.

Following the forum, attending presidential descendants will introduce winners of this year’s Monroe County student essay competition, after which attendees can mingle and enjoy cocktails on the lawn.

Located at 111 Front Street in Key West, FL, The Harry S. Truman Little White House, where President Truman spent 11 working vacations during his 1945-1953 administration, is Florida’s only presidential museum. In the past, the property has also hosted presidents Jimmy Carter, Dwight Eisenhower, William Howard Taft, Franklin D. Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy, and Bill Clinton.

Forum tickets are $40 each for Harry S. Truman Foundation members, $60 for non-members. The forum discussion begins at 4:30pm, with doors and cash bar opening at 4:00pm. Following the forum, winners of the Monroe County student essay competition will be announced, after which attendees can mingle and enjoy cocktails on the lawn.

Other Presidents Day Weekend events at the Little White House take place from Feb. 13 through Feb. 17 and include “Happy Hour at Harry’s,” a cocktails and presidential trivia competition evening, two live performances of the highly acclaimed stage production, “Give ‘Em Hell, Harry!” and a traditional Presidents Day cookout.

Presidents Day Weekend events at the Harry S. Truman Little White House are presented with the support of the Monroe County Tourist Development Council. For tickets and information visit www.trumanlittlewhitehouse.org/foundation/events/.
 
About the panel participants:

James Earl Carter IV, grandson of 39th U.S. President Jimmy Carter, was born in 1977 during the first few months of President Carter’s time in office. He is a lifelong student of political science, both in the United States and abroad. He has worked on numerous U.S. political campaigns and has participated in election observations with The Carter Center in countries like Nigeria and Indonesia, among others. Inspired by his late grandfather’s relationship with the country of Panama, James worked as an independent consultant for the government of Panama, writing grants for the Ministry of Social Development. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Policy with a concentration in Public Management and Governance from the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies at Georgia State University, and is the owner and founder of Carter Research, a political research firm based in Atlanta.

Clifton Truman Daniel is the oldest grandson of 33rd U.S. President Harry S. Truman and his wife, Bess. He is the son of author Margaret Truman and former New York Times Managing Editor E. Clifton Daniel Jr. He was a founding member and serves as Vice President for the Society of Presidential Descendants; is honorary chairman of the board of the Truman Library Institute, nonprofit partner of the Truman Presidential Library and Museum in Independence, MO; and board secretary of the Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation. Author of “Growing Up With My Grandfather: Memories of Harry S. Truman” and “Dear Harry, Love Bess: Bess Truman’s Letters to Harry Truman, 1919-1943,” Clifton Truman Daniel is currently portraying his grandfather in the one-man stage show, “Give ‘Em Hell, Harry!”, as well as writing and lecturing on the Truman presidency.

Ulysses Grant Dietz is the great-great-grandson of 18th U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant, the first U.S. president to visit Key West. Ulysses grew up in Syracuse, New York, where he reports his “Leave it to Beaver” life was enlivened by a fascination with vampires, from Bela Lugosi to Barnabas Collins. He studied French at Yale (BA, 1977), and was trained to be a museum curator in the University of Delaware’s Winterthur Program in American Material Culture (MA, 1980). His late mother, Julia, was the President’s last living great-grandchild, youngest daughter of Ulysses S. Grant III, and granddaughter of the president’s eldest son, Frederick. Every year on April 27 he gives a speech at Grant’s Tomb in New York City. He is also on the board of the U.S. Grant Presidential Library and Museum at Mississippi State University. A decorative arts curator at the Newark Museum for thirty-seven years before he retired, Ulysses has authored books on Victorian furniture, art pottery, studio ceramics, jewelry, and the White House, along with novels “Desmond,” “Vampire in Suburbia,” and “Cliffhanger.” Ulysses lives in New Jersey with his husband of 49 years. They have two grown children, adopted in 1996.

Mary Jean Eisenhower is a granddaughter of 34th U.S. President General Dwight D. and Mamie Eisenhower. Born in Washington, D.C. during Eisenhower’s first term in office, she grew up in nearby Gettysburg, PA, until her father, John Eisenhower, was named as US Ambassador to Belgium and moved the family abroad. Ms. Eisenhower served as a Fellow at Stanford University and at The Churchill Foundation at Westminster College, and is Chairman Emeritus, and former President and CEO of People to People International. A global humanitarian, she founded “Peace Camp 2003: An Evolution of Thought & Action” and “The Global Peace Initiative.” She has traveled to more than 75 countries, visiting demining teams and Peace Camps while supporting student and cultural programs. Mary Jean sits on the board of trustees for the Society of Presidential Descendants, holds three honorary doctorate degrees, and has been recognized with numerous awards, including the Knight of Peace Award from the International University in Assisi, Italy; the Medal of Honor from the Slovak Republic; The Harry S. Truman Award for Public Service; the Consular Corps Award of Excellence, and others.

Massee McKinley is the great-great grandson of 22nd and 24th U.S. President Grover Cleveland, and great-great nephew of 25th U.S. President William McKinley. He is a founding member and serves as Vice President and Chief of Staff of the Society of Presidential Descendants, and is a founding member and Co-Chairman of the National First Ladies Day Commission. He holds an MBA from the Terry College of Business of the University of Georgia, and is the founding partner of Peerage Communications, LLC, an executive and political communications boutique consulting firm headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. Massee has written for the likes of Delta Airlines, The Coca-Cola Company, LVMH (Louis Vuitton), Hermès and Ferragamo, as well as for three former United States House Speakers.
Tweed Roosevelt is President of the Society of Presidential Descendants, and Chairman of the Roosevelt School at Long Island University where he is a University Professor. A member of one of the most respected families in the United States, he is the great-grandson of President Theodore Roosevelt. Tweed led the effort to award Theodore Roosevelt the Congressional Medal of Honor, the United States’ highest military honor, which was formally awarded posthumously by President Bill Clinton in 2001. Tweed has taught at Harvard University, Columbia University’s School of Business and many other schools.  He is a frequent lecturer on history and other subjects including conservation and the environment, hunting, politics, literature, history, mathematics, Japanese-American relations, and exploration, and has retraced many of TR’s adventures in the American West, Africa, and the Amazon.  He holds a BA from Harvard College, an MBA from Columbia University, and a Doctorate of Humane Letters from Misericordia University. He lives on the island of Martha’s Vineyard, and has two children and one granddaughter. He lives on the island of Martha’s Vineyard, and has two children and one granddaughter.

Patricia Taft is great-granddaughter of 27th U.S. President and 10th Chief Justice William Howard Taft, and granddaughter of Senior Senator, Robert A. Taft Sr. She is a Cum Laude graduate of Vanderbilt University and holds a Master of Arts Degree in Interior Architecture. Following fashion and design careers in New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles, she is now principal designer and owner of the bicoastal interior design firm, “Patricia Taft Studio.” Patricia is a political enthusiast and fervid proponent of preservation and education of U.S. presidential history and democracy, and sits on the board of trustees for the Society of Presidential Descendants. She holds immense passion for maintaining the important legacy of American First Ladies, such as her great-grandmother Helen Herron Taft, and annually looks forward to celebrating her legacy and critical role in bringing Washington D.C.’s many cherry blossom trees into fruition through the National Cherry Blossom Festival. Patricia resides in Santa Monica, CA, with her husband Chris Swaine, two daughters, and French bulldog, Pascal.
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Dr. Cori Convertito, moderator of the 2025 “Presidential Descendants Forum,” is chief curator and historian for the Key West Art & Historical Society, the non-profit steward of four museums in Key West. She has 25-years experience in the museum and archives sector, while also serving as an Adjunct Educator in history at the College of the Florida Keys.  Prior to her current appointment, she worked in London as the archivist for the P&O Heritage Collection with its collection held at the National Maritime Museum. Cori has published several articles and has presented papers at a number of international conferences including the U.S. Naval Academy’s McMullen Naval Historical Symposium, ‘Navy & Nation’ at the National Maritime Museum, UK, and ‘Health, and Medicine and Mariners’ at the University of Exeter. She holds a Ph.D. in British Naval History from the University of Exeter, U.K. Her thesis, entitled ‘The Health of British Seamen in the West Indies, 1770-1806’ was awarded the Boydell & Brewer Prize for the best doctoral thesis in maritime history, 2011-12.

The Key West Harry S. Truman Foundation is pleased to announce that Florida Keys-based historian Cori Convertito, Ph.D., will moderate the upcoming Presidential Descendants Forum, set to begin at 4:30pm, Saturday, Feb. 15, at the Harry S. Truman Little White House, 111 Front St., in Key West. Dr. Convertito steps in on behalf of the previously announced moderator, Dr. Kurt Graham, who had to withdraw on short notice due to a family emergency.

Dr. Convertito holds a doctorate in Maritime History from the University of Exeter U.K. and is widely known in the Keys as chief curator and historian for the Key West Art & Historical Society. During her tenure in the Keys, she has drawn a dedicated local following for her skillfully curated museum exhibits showcasing Florida Keys history, heritage, and arts. Convertito holds a monthly educational and enlightening “Happy Hour with the Historian” program as well as serving as an adjunct educator in history at the College of the Florida Keys.

“The Key West Harry S. Truman Foundation and The Society of Presidential Descendants are thrilled that Dr. Convertito is able to step in as our Forum moderator,” said Clinton Curry, executive director for the Key West Harry S. Truman Foundation, “and particularly so this year, as our central topic of discussion is, “Historic Preservation—artifacts, objects and sites. Preserving our nation’s history for future generations.”

Presidential descendants scheduled to appear on the dais with Convertito are: James Carter, grandson of President Jimmy Carter; Clifton Truman Daniel, grandson of Harry S. Truman; Ulysses Grant Dietz, great-great-grandson of Ulysses S. Grant; Mary Jean Eisenhower, granddaughter of Dwight D. Eisenhower; Massee McKinley, great-great grandson of Grover Cleveland; Tweed Roosevelt, great-grandson Theodore Roosevelt, and Patricia Taft, great-granddaughter William H. Taft.

Following the forum discussion, attending presidential descendants will introduce winners of this year’s Monroe County student essay competition.

The Presidential Descendants Forum is centerpiece of a multi-day series of events taking place at the Harry S. Truman Little White House over Presidents Day Weekend. Other events include live performances of “Give Em Hell, Harry!”, a Presidents Day cookout on the Little White House grounds, a “Happy Hour at Harry’s” cocktail and trivia game evening, and more.
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The Presidential Families Weekend is presented with the support of the Monroe County Tourist Development Council. For tickets and information visit www.trumanlittlewhitehouse.org/foundation/events/. 

On Saturday, February 15, 2025, the Key West Harry S. Truman Foundation, in partnership with The Society of Presidential Descendants, is set to welcome seven distinguished descendants of U.S. presidents who will participate in a panel discussion moderated by Dr. Kurt Graham on the grounds of the Harry S. Truman Little White House in Key West, Florida. An annual ticketed event that takes place before a live audience, the “Presidential Descendants Forum” is the largest Presidents Day Weekend gathering of presidential descendants in the country.

Scheduled to discuss their forebears legacies and the importance of historic preservation are: James Carter, grandson of 39th U.S. President Jimmy Carter; Clifton Truman Daniel, grandson of 33rd U.S. President Harry S. Truman; Ulysses Grant Dietz, great-great-grandson of 18th U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant; Mary Jean Eisenhower, granddaughter of 34th U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower; Massee McKinley, great-great grandson of 22nd and 24th U.S. President Grover Cleveland; Tweed Roosevelt, great-grandson of 26th U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt; and Patricia Taft, great-granddaughter of 27th U.S. President William H. Taft.

“We’re thrilled to host this brilliant panel, with representatives from both sides of the isle, and delighted that Dr. Kurt Graham has agreed to return as this year’s moderator,” said Clinton Curry, Executive Director for the Key West Harry S. Truman Foundation. “Dr. Graham’s knowledge, skill, and ability to guide a lively and engaging discussion makes for a fascinating experience.”

“It’s a great privilege and a pleasure to serve as moderator for these individuals, all articulate and polished spokespeople for the legacies of their forebears, and whose purpose is to be of service and to educate,” commented Dr. Graham, a historian and author who served for nearly a decade as director of Independence, Missouri’s Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum.

Located at 111 Front Street in Key West, FL, The Harry S. Truman Little White House, where President Truman spent 11 working vacations during his 1945-1953 administration, is Florida’s only presidential museum. In the past, the property has also hosted presidents Jimmy Carter, Dwight Eisenhower, William Howard Taft, Franklin D. Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy, and Bill Clinton.

Forum tickets are $40 each for Harry S. Truman Foundation members, $60 for non-members. The forum discussion begins at 4:30pm, with doors and cash bar opening at 4:00pm. Following the forum, winners of the Monroe County student essay competition will be announced, after which attendees can mingle and enjoy cocktails on the lawn.

Other Presidents Day Weekend events at the Little White House take place from Feb. 13 through Feb. 17 and include “Happy Hour at Harry’s,” a cocktails and presidential trivia competition evening, two live performances of the highly acclaimed stage production, “Give ‘Em Hell, Harry!” and a traditional Presidents Day cookout.

Presidents Day Weekend events at the Harry S. Truman Little White House are presented with the support of the Monroe County Tourist Development Council. For tickets and information visit www.trumanlittlewhitehouse.org/foundation/events/.
 
About the panel participants:

James Earl Carter IV, grandson of 39th U.S. President Jimmy Carter, was born in 1977 during the first few months of President Carter’s time in office. He is a lifelong student of political science, both in the United States and abroad. He has worked on numerous U.S. political campaigns and has participated in election observations with The Carter Center in countries like Nigeria and Indonesia, among others. Inspired by his late grandfather’s relationship with the country of Panama, James worked as an independent consultant for the government of Panama, writing grants for the Ministry of Social Development. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Policy with a concentration in Public Management and Governance from the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies at Georgia State University, and is the owner and founder of Carter Research, a political research firm based in Atlanta.

Clifton Truman Daniel is the oldest grandson of 33rd U.S. President Harry S. Truman and his wife, Bess. He is the son of author Margaret Truman and former New York Times Managing Editor E. Clifton Daniel Jr. He was a founding member and serves as Vice President for the Society of Presidential Descendants; is honorary chairman of the board of the Truman Library Institute, nonprofit partner of the Truman Presidential Library and Museum in Independence, MO; and board secretary of the Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation. Author of “Growing Up With My Grandfather: Memories of Harry S. Truman” and “Dear Harry, Love Bess: Bess Truman’s Letters to Harry Truman, 1919-1943,” Clifton Truman Daniel is currently portraying his grandfather in the one-man stage show, “Give ‘Em Hell, Harry!”, as well as writing and lecturing on the Truman presidency.

Ulysses Grant Dietz is the great-great-grandson of 18th U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant, the first U.S. president to visit Key West. Ulysses grew up in Syracuse, New York, where he reports his “Leave it to Beaver” life was enlivened by a fascination with vampires, from Bela Lugosi to Barnabas Collins. He studied French at Yale (BA, 1977), and was trained to be a museum curator in the University of Delaware’s Winterthur Program in American Material Culture (MA, 1980). His late mother, Julia, was the President’s last living great-grandchild, youngest daughter of Ulysses S. Grant III, and granddaughter of the president’s eldest son, Frederick. Every year on April 27 he gives a speech at Grant’s Tomb in New York City. He is also on the board of the U.S. Grant Presidential Library and Museum at Mississippi State University. A decorative arts curator at the Newark Museum for thirty-seven years before he retired, Ulysses has authored books on Victorian furniture, art pottery, studio ceramics, jewelry, and the White House, along with novels “Desmond,” “Vampire in Suburbia,” and “Cliffhanger.” Ulysses lives in New Jersey with his husband of 49 years. They have two grown children, adopted in 1996.

Mary Jean Eisenhower is a granddaughter of 34th U.S. President General Dwight D. and Mamie Eisenhower. Born in Washington, D.C. during Eisenhower’s first term in office, she grew up in nearby Gettysburg, PA, until her father, John Eisenhower, was named as US Ambassador to Belgium and moved the family abroad. Ms. Eisenhower served as a Fellow at Stanford University and at The Churchill Foundation at Westminster College, and is Chairman Emeritus, and former President and CEO of People to People International. A global humanitarian, she founded “Peace Camp 2003: An Evolution of Thought & Action” and “The Global Peace Initiative.” She has traveled to more than 75 countries, visiting demining teams and Peace Camps while supporting student and cultural programs. Mary Jean sits on the board of trustees for the Society of Presidential Descendants, holds three honorary doctorate degrees, and has been recognized with numerous awards, including the Knight of Peace Award from the International University in Assisi, Italy; the Medal of Honor from the Slovak Republic; The Harry S. Truman Award for Public Service; the Consular Corps Award of Excellence, and others.

Massee McKinley is the great-great grandson of 22nd and 24th U.S. President Grover Cleveland, and great-great nephew of 25th U.S. President William McKinley. He is a founding member and serves as Vice President and Chief of Staff of the Society of Presidential Descendants, and is a founding member and Co-Chairman of the National First Ladies Day Commission. He holds an MBA from the Terry College of Business of the University of Georgia, and is the founding partner of Peerage Communications, LLC, an executive and political communications boutique consulting firm headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. Massee has written for the likes of Delta Airlines, The Coca-Cola Company, LVMH (Louis Vuitton), Hermès and Ferragamo, as well as for three former United States House Speakers.

Tweed Roosevelt is President of the Society of Presidential Descendants, and Chairman of the Roosevelt School at Long Island University where he is a University Professor. A member of one of the most respected families in the United States, he is the great-grandson of President Theodore Roosevelt. Tweed led the effort to award Theodore Roosevelt the Congressional Medal of Honor, the United States’ highest military honor, which was formally awarded posthumously by President Bill Clinton in 2001. Tweed has taught at Harvard University, Columbia University’s School of Business and many other schools.  He is a frequent lecturer on history and other subjects including conservation and the environment, hunting, politics, literature, history, mathematics, Japanese-American relations, and exploration, and has retraced many of TR’s adventures in the American West, Africa, and the Amazon.  He holds a BA from Harvard College, an MBA from Columbia University, and a Doctorate of Humane Letters from Misericordia University. He lives on the island of Martha’s Vineyard, and has two children and one granddaughter. He lives on the island of Martha’s Vineyard, and has two children and one granddaughter.

Patricia Taft is great-granddaughter of 27th U.S. President and 10th Chief Justice William Howard Taft, and granddaughter of Senior Senator, Robert A. Taft Sr. She is a Cum Laude graduate of Vanderbilt University and holds a Master of Arts Degree in Interior Architecture. Following fashion and design careers in New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles, she is now principal designer and owner of the bicoastal interior design firm, “Patricia Taft Studio.” Patricia is a political enthusiast and fervid proponent of preservation and education of U.S. presidential history and democracy, and sits on the board of trustees for the Society of Presidential Descendants. She holds immense passion for maintaining the important legacy of American First Ladies, such as her great-grandmother Helen Herron Taft, and annually looks forward to celebrating her legacy and critical role in bringing Washington D.C.’s many cherry blossom trees into fruition through the National Cherry Blossom Festival. Patricia resides in Santa Monica, CA, with her husband Chris Swaine, two daughters, and French bulldog, Pascal.
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Dr. Kurt Graham, moderator of the 2025 “Presidential Descendants Forum,” is President of the Adams Presidential Center and Foundation in Quincy, MA. He is the former Director of Independence, Missouri’s federally operated Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum and author of the book “To Bring Law Home: The Federal Judiciary.” With extensive experience in the library/museum world, his background also includes serving as Director of the McCracken Research Library at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West in Cody, Wyoming, and as Director of the Church History Museum in Salt Lake City, Utah. He has a Ph.D. in American History from Brown University, a B.A. and an M.A. from Brigham Young University in English and American Studies, and previously taught undergraduate and graduate courses in American political and legal/constitutional history at California State University, San Bernardino. 

The Key West Harry S. Truman Foundation, in partnership with The Society of Presidential Descendants, is pleased to announce its third annual essay competition for Monroe County high school students.
 
First, Second, and Third place winners will receive an invitation to attend the upcoming annual Harry S. Truman Foundation Presidential Families Weekend forum in February, held at the Key West Harry S. Truman Little White House. As part of their prize package the students will be seated at a reserved table to experience a moderated discussion among descendants of U.S. presidents. Following the forum, presidential descendants will introduce the winners to the audience and present them with cash prizes and certificates of achievement.
 
Submitted essays are to reflect this year’s forum theme, “Historic Preservation—artifacts, objects and sites. Preserving our nation’s history for future generations.” Essays will be juried by members of the Key West Harry S. Truman Foundation and The Society of Presidential Descendants, and judged on factors that include the author’s skill at presenting the subject compellingly according to competition guidelines. The competition is open to all Monroe County students, including home schooled and charter school students, currently enrolled in grades 9-12, and who have performed volunteer service work within the past two years.
 
Monroe County School District Social Studies Coordinator Jennifer C. Barrios is liaison between the school district and the competition organizers, and will accompany the winning students to the forum.
 
“Growing up in Key West, surrounded by so much history, reflected in so many forms, certainly had an impact on me and cultivated my own passion for historic preservation,” said Clinton Curry, Key West Harry S. Truman Foundation Executive Director and a seventh generation Key Wester. “In preserving and safeguarding material objects, from classic structures to artifacts, and of course the rich resource of personal correspondence, we are able to know and better understand our cultural heritage.”
 
Deadline for essay submissions is January 30, 2025. To request essay guidelines and submission information, email Kevin Theriault at [email protected].

On Saturday, February 17, 2024, the Key West Harry S. Truman Foundation, in partnership with The Society of Presidential Descendants, is set to present six descendants of U.S. presidents who will engage in a moderated panel discussion on the grounds of the Harry S. Truman Little White House, 111 Front Street, Key West, Florida. An annual ticketed event that takes place before a live audience, the “Presidential Descendants Forum” is the largest Presidents’ Day Weekend gathering of presidential descendants in the country.
 
Scheduled to discuss the topic, "Political Maneuvering: The Powerful Influence of the Presidency,” are James Carter, grandson of 39th U.S. President Jimmy Carter; Clifton Truman Daniel, grandson of 33rd U.S. President Harry S. Truman; Ulysses Grant Dietz, great-great-grandson of 18th U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant; Mary Jean Eisenhower, granddaughter of 34th U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower; Massee McKinley, great-great grandson of 22nd and 24th U.S. President Grover Cleveland; and Patricia Taft, great-granddaughter of 27TH U.S. President William H. Taft.
 
Dr. Kurt Graham, Director of Independence, Missouri’s federally operated Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum, will serve as moderator.
 
The Harry S. Truman Little White House, where President Truman spent 11 working vacations during his 1945-1953 administration, is Florida’s only presidential museum. In the past, the property has also hosted presidents Jimmy Carter, Dwight Eisenhower, William Howard Taft, Franklin D. Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy, and Bill Clinton.
 
Forum tickets are $40 each for Harry S. Truman Foundation members, $60 for non-members. The forum discussion begins at 4:30pm, with doors and cash bar opening at 4:00pm. Following the forum, winners of the inaugural Monroe County student essay competition will be announced, after which attendees can mingle and enjoy cocktails on the lawn.
 
Other Presidents’ Day Weekend events at the Little White House take place from Feb. 15 through Feb. 19 and include “Happy Hour at Harry’s,” a cocktails and presidential trivia competition evening, two live performances of the highly acclaimed stage production, “Give ‘Em Hell, Harry!”, a presentation by renowned artist Tom Corbin, creator of the monumental Harry S Truman bronze sculpture on display in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda in Washington D.C., and a traditional Presidents’ Day Cookout.
 
Presidents’ Day Weekend events at the Harry S. Truman Little White House are presented with the support of the Monroe County Tourist Development Council. For tickets and information visit www.trumanlittlewhitehouse.org/foundation/events/.

While Tom Corbin’s highly coveted art works can be found in a veritable “Who’s Who” of public, private, and corporate collections and even spotted adorning the walls of fictional collectors in television and film stories, it’s probably safe to say his most outstanding accomplishment is his larger-than-life bronze statue of 33rd U.S. President Harry S. Truman, which was unveiled at the U.S. Capitol Rotunda in Washington, D.C., in late September of 2022.

On Sunday, February 18, from 10:00am until noon, the Key West Harry S. Truman Foundation will host the master artist for a special presentation to be held on the grounds of the Harry S. Truman Little White House, 111 Front Street, during which he will discuss the tools, research and processes he employed for his monumental undertaking, answer audience questions, and share insights on where he finds his inspiration. His presentation is a feature of this year’s “Presidential Families Weekend” events, and also launches the Foundation’s new TRU-ly Amazing Art series.

Based in Rosedale, Kansas, Corbin’s studio and gallery are housed in a historic 1912 firehouse with a compelling history of its own, reflected in preserved artifacts and fixtures that include a brass fire pole, a bank safe, and a jail cell. But art was not his first career, advertising was, and he reports that he came to art via “more serendipity than calculation.” Ahead of his Key West appearance, the artist agreed to answer a few questions about how he got from “there” to “here.”
 
Q: Can you describe what motivated you to explore your artistic potential?
Growing up with a mother who taught elementary school art, I was exposed to a number of art disciplines at an early age. Continually drawing for my own pleasure through high school and college, I never considered art seriously as a vocation. I assumed it would be a nice hobby to have. 
A variety of traditional sales jobs followed college graduation. My yearning for more creative employment eventually led me into the advertising business as an account executive. A friend at the agency introduced me to a bronze sculptor who was holding classes out of her home on Wednesday nights. Just for something different, I decided to attend her class. 
 
Q: Was there a turning point moment that caused you to make the leap from advertising executive to full-time artist?
From a practical standpoint, I realized there were few bronze sculptors in the Midwest. With my growing passion for casting and with the marketing knowledge I was gaining at the agency, I sensed that a career in art, sculpture specifically, might be possible. So, in 1986, I quit my ad job, rented a loft space and never looked back. 
 
Q: Your Harry S. Truman bronze statue is 8’ tall – 11’ if you count the pedestal. Had you ever created a human sculpture prior to this undertaking, and one of this scale?
I have done a number of life size and monumental human sculptures during my 37-year career. Soldiers, firemen, dancers, you name it. But I have never been involved with a commission of this significance and social impact. It has been such an honor to be involved with this project.
 
Q: You were one of multiple artists invited to submit sculpture proposals, and then later as a finalist, a preliminary model, or maquette. What are one or two features of yours that you feel were key to you winning the commission?
Through my research of Truman, I discovered that he truly considered himself a common man. He lacked pretense, was quick to shake your hand and relished a brisk walk around the White House or his home in Independence, MO. In addition to studying Harry, I also examined the existing sculptures in Statuary Hall, many of which seemed stoic and unapproachable. I wanted my Truman model to display just the opposite: relaxed and in motion, as if to greet you. To accomplish this, I have the President descending a set of stairs with his smile intact.
 
Q: How long did it take for you to create the monument, from beginning to end and what was your biggest challenge?
From being awarded the commission to unveiling Harry took four years. The actual time I spent sculpting the 8-foot Harry was about a year. The remaining time included molding, casting and waiting for approvals at each stage of development both on the state and federal level. The biggest challenge was the ability to please all the individuals involved whose approval was required. Also...patience was a necessity. 
 

Corbin’s Truman Statue, situated between George Washington and Ulysses S. Grant, is the tenth presidential statue to be installed in the Capitol Rotunda. It was commissioned by the Truman Library Institute for the State of Missouri, and funded through the support of Truman Statue sponsors. Much of Corbin’s research for the project was conducted at the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum.
The “Presidential Families Weekend” and Tom Corbin’s “TRU-ly Amazing Art” event are presented with the support of the Monroe County Tourist Development Council.  For tickets and more information visit www.trumanlittlewhitehouse.org/foundation/events/

On Sunday, February 18, from 10:00am until noon, the Key West Harry S. Truman Foundation welcomes master artist Tom Corbin, creator of the larger-than-life Harry S. Truman bronze memorial sculpture that was installed and unveiled at the U.S. Capitol Rotunda in September of 2022.
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Corbin’s presentation, which will take place at the Harry S. Truman Little White House, 111 Front Street, Key West, is a special feature of this year’s “Presidential Families Weekend” events, and also launches the Key West Harry S. Truman Foundation’s new TRU-ly Amazing Art series. The artist will discuss the tools, research and processes he employed for his monumental undertaking, answer audience questions, and share insights on where he finds his inspiration.
​
The “Presidential Families Weekend” and Tom Corbin “TRU-ly Amazing Art” events are presented with the support of the Monroe County Tourist Development Council. For tickets and information visit www.trumanlittlewhitehouse.org/foundation/events/.